Certifying Health Information

The Information Standard certification is awarded to organizations proven to provide clear, accurate, impartial, evidence-based, up-to-date health information. The organizations have also proven to demonstrate a commitment to providing trustworthy healthcare information and assurances for the quality of their internal processes. The Information Standard is provided by NHS England, the leader of the National Health Service (NHS) in England.

Health On the Internet (HON) Foundation promotes the use of reliable online health information and is the most widely accepted reference for online health and medical publishers. HONcode certification requires the verification of eight ethical principles, and each certified site is assessed annually. A site's certificate will link to a description of how the website complies with the HONcode principles.

Health Information Websites

Independent & Popular

Patient is a highly-trusted and independent website of health information for patients and health professionals. The site provides information leaflets, a well-being center, a free health check, and discussion forums. The site has won several awards including Website of the Year (2015), and is HONcode certified and Information Standard certified for providing reliable online health information. 

WebMD and MedicineNet.com (owned by WebMD) provide health information for consumers from a staff of experts in medicine, journalism and health communication. WebMD has won several awards, and both sites meet HONcode’s ethical guidelines for providing quality, objective, and transparent medical information. For more information on the HONcode, visit Health On the Net Foundation website.

HealthLine provides information on health conditions, medications, and suggestions for a healthier lifestyle. The medical reviewers consist of medical doctors, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, and dietitians, some of whom have a PhD. Finally, the site is certified as compliant with the HONcode, meeting HONcode’s ethical guidelines for providing quality, objective, and transparent medical information. For more information on the HONcode, visit Health On the Net Foundation website.

Government

MedLinePlus is produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and a website of the National Institute of Health. As stated on the website,  MedlinePlus contains information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. You can use MedlinePlus to learn about the latest treatments, look up information on a drug or supplement, find out the meanings of words, or view medical videos or illustrations. You can also get links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition.

Health Hotlines from National Library of Medicine assists the public with locating toll-free telephone numbers to government agencies, support groups, and other organizations that provide information and help with health-related topics.

The following websites are by ethnicity and sponsored by the National Library of Medicine. The descriptions provided are from each site.

American Indian Health is an information portal to issues affecting the health and well-being of American Indians. The site is designed to bring together health and medical resources pertinent to the American Indian population including policies, consumer health information, and research. Links are provided to an assortment of documents, Web sites, databases, and other resources. 

Asian American Health is an information portal to issues affecting the health and well-being of Asian-Americans. The site is a collaborative effort between the Division of Specialized Information Services and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organization to identify and provide specific resources for the Asian American Community. 

Arctic Health is an Information portal to issues affecting the health and well-being of our planet’s northern most inhabitants. The site give access to evaluated health information from hundreds of local, state, national, and international agencies, as well as from professional societies and universities. 

Additional Government Website

As stated on their website, the CDC helps to keep Americans safe by tracking diseases, research outbreaks, respond to emergencies, and develop public health policies. The CDC also works to protect Americans from diseases, injuries, and disabilities associated with natural disasters and bioterrorism attacks

Scholastic

Stanford Health Library provides free, scientifically-based medical information on several topics including health conditions, diagnosis, and treatment. Stanford Health Library also provides information on injuries, First-Aid, CPR, and phone numbers to Poison Control Hotlines.

Harvard Health Publications provides everyone with the most current health information by utilizing the Medical School's physicians, researchers, and faculty members. The site also provides newsletters and publications of special health reports including nutrition, pain management, and mental health.